Raw Video: Koenig Family Makes Statement

His father, actor Walter Koenig, who starred as Pavel Chekov in the television series "Star Trek," said Thursday that his son took his own life.

"Andrew had some very close friends here in Vancouver. As I've said before, he really felt this was home," said Walter Koenig.

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"Ten of them decided today to do yet another sweep of Stanley Park, and invited me to join them," he said.

The search party broke up into teams. Shortly before noon, one of the teams discovered the body, according to E! News.

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Koenig was discovered in a densely wooded area of native pines and brush, so deep into the forest off Stanely Park's Bridle Path, one of dozens of trails in the 1,000-acre area, that it appeared to the search party that "Andrew didn't want to be found," the source said.

The person who found him then alerted the other searchers via cell phone, after which Koenig's father, Walter, came to what was described as a "grisly" scene and identified his son.

"We've already said what a great guy he was and good human being. He was obviously in a lot of pain," said Walter Koenig.

Walter Koenig made a tearful plea to anyone considering suicide:

"The only other thing I want to say is, because I've received an awful lot of e-mails -- hundreds of e-mails from people who said they were depressed or had … contemplated the same course of action, or from families who said they had somebody in their family who showed signs of this kind of behavior or had in fact, lost members of their families because of this.

"The only thing want to say is if you're one of those people who really cant feel it, if you can't handle it anymore, you know, if you can learn anything from this it's that there are people out there who really care. You may not think so, and ultimately it may not be enough. But there are people who really, really care.

"And before you make that final decision, check it out again. Talk to somebody. And for those families who have members who they fear are susceptible to this kind of behavior, don't ignore it. Don't rationalize it. Extend a hand."

Andrew Koenig, 41, was in Vancouver visiting friends. He was last seen alive on Feb. 14. The Venice, Calif., resident is best remembered for portraying Richard "Boner" Stabone, the friend of Kirk Cameron's character in the 1980s sitcom "Growing Pains."

At Thursday's news conference, the actor's mother, Judy Levin-Koenig, begged people to get help for depression.

"For both the families and people who are suffering from depression, they don't realize that there is help, and they need help," Levin-Koenig said.

She added that Thursday's news conference will be the only statement the family makes.

"(Andrew) was much loved and had much to contribute in this world," Levin-Koenig said.